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Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Olympus VR-340 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Olympus VR-340
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-240mm (F3.0-5.7) lens
  • 125g - 96 x 57 x 19mm
  • Revealed January 2012
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A200
  • Updated by Sony A290
Photography Glossary

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Olympus VR-340 versus Sony A230, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Olympus and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the VR-340 (16MP) and A230 (10MP) and the VR-340 (1/2.3") and A230 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The VR-340 was revealed 2 years later than the A230 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VR-340 being a Compact camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the VR-340 scores versus the A230 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus VR-340 over the Sony A230

 VR-340 A230 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012May 2009Fresher by 33 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Olympus VR-340

 A230 VR-340 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Common features in the Olympus VR-340 and Sony A230

 VR-340 A230 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Olympus VR-340 offers outer dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony A230 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

See the Olympus VR-340 versus Sony A230 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the VR-340 vs the A230.

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the VR-340 and A230 is 96 and 69 respectively.

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading a spec sheet. The visual here may give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the VR-340 and A230.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The VR-340 using its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Olympus VR-340 will offer greater detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures way more aggressively. The more modern VR-340 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A230 as a Portrait photography camera
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
54
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
does not have liveview
low megapixels (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Street photography information
Sony A230 Street photography information
63
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others in class (125g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Sports photography info
Sony A230 Sports photography info
44
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10MP)
low battery life (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus VR-340 Travel photography information
Sony A230 Travel photography information
69
lighter than others in class (125g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
45
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low battery life (230 shots)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus VR-340
Landscape photography with Sony A230
43
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
51
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
does not have liveview
low megapixels (10MP)
low battery life (230 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus VR-340 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A230 as a Vlogging camera
33
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
lighter than others in class (125g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic port
9
no video shooting
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Olympus VR-340 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus VR-340 and Sony A230
 Olympus VR-340Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus VR-340 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-01-10 2009-05-18
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3872 x 2592
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-240mm (10.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.0-5.7 -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.80 m 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30,15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 180 (30,15 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125 grams (0.28 pounds) 490 grams (1.08 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 19mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 63
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 531
Other
Battery life - 230 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model LI-50B NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $130 $569